With the advent of the interactive whiteboard and more IT equipment available in schools, surely now is the time to harness the use of the internet to support the sharing of our teaching resources. The National Grid for Learning Cymru (NGfL Cymru) provides teachers in Wales with free access to a wealth of high-quality, colourful and interactive resources.
One of its key priorities is to develop resources that reflect the 'cwri- cwlwm Cymreig' and also to provide materials for those schools that teach through the medium of Welsh.
A particularly innovative example is a set of resources to support a new textbook for geography at key stage 4.
One of the resources looks at traffic congestion in Cardiff and through mind-mapping activities seeks to identify the causes, problems and solutions.
Developed in a Welsh context and available in both languages, the resources provide an exciting way of engaging with the pupils through the creative use of animation, interactivity and questioning.
There are more than 1,600 unique, downloadable and adaptable resources supporting all key stages.
Martin Williams, head of history at St Cenydd Comprehensive, Caerphilly, said, 'This is some- thing that teachers should be immensely excited about, primarily because NGfL Cymru is still in its infancy and yet has been able to provide more materials to support the curriculum in Wales than any other online educational provider.'
The materials are sourced in a variety of ways including through LEAs, teachers and partnerships with commercial developers in Wales and beyond.
NGfL Cymru has five field officers who are employed to support teachers in the development of resources and offer guidance in their effective use.
At the moment NGfL Cymru gets around 7000 visitors per day which has more than doubled in the last 18 months.
However, many teachers in Wales have yet to fully appreciate the role that NGfL Cymru can play, or even fully realise its potential to act as a central portal for the sharing of resources and good practice.
Future developments include a series of resources for Spanish, mathematics, Welsh and resources specifically developed to support inclusive education and specialist provision.
The NGfL Cymru approach is one of contribution, collaboration and co-operation with the partnerships being developed to provide an exciting opportunity to share good practice and to ensure that teachers, pupils and learners benefit throughout Wales.
If you are looking for free, adaptable teaching resources or require further information please do not hesitate to contact NGfL Cymru via their website www.- ngfl-cymru.org.uk
(NGfL Cymru is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and managed in partnership with the WJEC and 22 LEAs in Wales)
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